City Council defers anti-plastic measure

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council has held in abeyance the approval of a proposed ordinance that will prohibit the use of plastic bags and other plastic packaging materials in the city during weekends.

Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young wants the proponents, Councilors Edgardo Labella and Leah Ouano-Japson, to make some refinement to the proposed measures before it will be presented to the body.

The proposed measure bans the use of plastics during weekends. It provides a penalty of P5,000 fine and imprisonment of up to six months for those who will be caught violating it.

The members of the council agreed to defer the approval of the proposed ordinance until all queries shall have been addressed and all other concerns shall be included in the final draft.

Councilor Augustus Pe Jr. has asked the proponents whether the sidewalk vendors are covered by the ordinance.

The proposed ordinance only mentioned of establishments but did not mention about sidewalk vendors.

A similar ordinance had already been proposed in the previous council but was not approved for lack of time.

Labella and Japson are optimistic that their measure will help minimize the problem of clogged-up drainage in the city.  (FREEMAN)